Eagles Wake-Up Call: The Buzz Is Back

When the locker room opened up to reporters Thursday afternoon, the place was humming. Nnamdi Asomugha and Kurt Coleman were engaged in a passionate conversation. Mardy Gilyard was chasing an unidentified victim around with a towel. Music blasted from Trent Cole‘s stall. (At one point an Oldies song came on and everyone began looking at Cole sideways. “It’s not me!” he said. “It’s Pandora!”)

There were signs of life for the first time in weeks.

Marty Mornhinweg foreshadowed these developments earlier in the day.

“There’s quite a bit of excitement, I think, in this situation, because of a couple things,” said Mornhinweg. “Number one, the situation we’re in. Can we get it done and make a run here? Secondly, with a rookie quarterback there is certainly some excitement there.”

There was a noticeable bump in energy when Foles entered the game against the Cowboys. It was short-lived, of course, as Dallas dried up all enthusiasm with a punt return and an interception for a touchdown. But the feeling is back this week.

“Everyone, especially on the offensive side, has to take their game up another notch just because Nick hasn’t seen all the different looks he’s about to see this week,” said Coleman. “Everyone has to raise their level of play just so they can help him out. It’s not that we weren’t playing hard, because Mike [Vick] does so much for this team and he’s able to play through so many different circumstances. But I think everybody’s level of play has to rise another notch because they know it’s going to be Nick’s first start. He’s not going to be perfect so we have to be able to take our game up another notch to try and help him out.”

Andy Reid told the players this week just to go back to having fun. Judging by this week’s atmosphere, they are heeding the advice of their coach.

“We’ve still got a chance, man, you have to be fired up,” said Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. “You get another chance to go out there and right all the wrongs.”

Added Coleman: “It’s been getting lost, because you go through a loss, a loss, a loss, and you lose kind of your identity or what this game’s about. It becomes not fun playing when you’re losing. We’re not worried about trying to win, we’re not worrying about maybe if we lose, we’re just worried about, let’s play our best ball and have fun.”

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southy

I suppose I’m happy about this if it will help them execute, but man, this isn’t little league. These guys should know how to bring the best out of themselves on gameday already.

Brad in Indiana

I see on PFT where Marty is defending his use of the run using number of carry stats again. When will he realize it’s not about the number of carries McCoy gets, but rather, WHEN he gets those carries! Giving him 5 carries on a drive with 2 minutes left in the game and the birds are down 11 doesn’t impress me……sorry, of subject I know, but I had to vent. Good day, Eagles fans!

Guest

Not surprising. I’m sure it’s the same vibe as last year when they were 4-8. Pressure was off b/c season was effectively over, so they won 4 games the owner later described as “fool’s gold.”

Will anyone be impressed by one 3-6 team beating another on Sunday?

GoBirds1971

Tim – Any word from the Coach on when the fans get to start having fun again?

Tim_McManus

He said he wasn’t getting into all that.

The Guru

Wonder if that “buzz” is back because they finally benched the lost cause in Vick and Foles is starting. All of a sudden, winning isn’t that daunting with a guy who can read the defense, know where the blitz is coming from, and can check into the right play….

Septhinox

” “Everyone has to raise their level of play just so they can help him out. It’s not that we weren’t playing hard…”

No, it was exactly that Kurt. You weren’t playing hard. You should already be at that level or play.

UncleCarm

So sad… blaming it on Pandora

Kimbafuzz

The buzz was back after they fired Castillo too… Saw how that turned out. And like someone else said, the pressure is totally off now. They can do whatever and people will think it’s progress (see last season).

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